New program will aid adult learners

Nova Scotians who don’t have a high school diploma and are struggling with job prospects may find another path to work later in the year.

The province’s school for adult learning is hoping to create a new program this fall linked to a labour market need, similar to the continuing-care-assistant training program offered since 2007-08.

Karen Gatien, director of the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning, said Tuesday that talks are underway with the Nova Scotia Community College on a program and how it would be funded. Since a decision hasn’t been made, Gatien said she couldn’t disclose the occupation.

“I’m quite optimistic that

there’ll be something running in the fall,” she said after appearing at the legislature’s human resources committee.

“I would expect it will likely be in more an administrative-type area.”

Gatien said the 22-month continuing-care program has been a success, with just about all graduates getting work in the field. She said 33 of the 34 people in the program’s first year completed it and received multiple job offers. The other person switched to a different program when they decided being a continuing care assistant wasn’t for them.

She said the program is offered in Bridgewater and Amherst this year, areas where there’s a need for continuing care assistants. It’s been available in Middleton, Truro and Sydney in the past.

New Democrat MLA Gary Burrill wanted to know about additional programs, considering the success of the continuing-care course.

“People that I know who have been through the CCA program, this has been as life-transformational as any education experience I can think of,” said Burrill, the Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley MLA.

The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning, which doesn’t charge tuition, has about 4,400 people enrolled, up from 3,200 in 2009-10.

Gatien said there are about 87,000 Nova Scotians without their high school equivalency, although a small number of them have some post-secondary education.

She expects the enrolment will continue to grow as the school adds more programs attached to jobs. She also said people are starting to think differently about learning.

They are now saying, “‘I want to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that are out there and I need to get my education to do that,’” she said.

But Gatien said some people still have a misconception that if they’re able to read, the school isn’t for them. She said there’s a distinction between literacy and learning.

“We all need to continue to learn,” she said. “We have to be a province that is able to do that. What new skills am I going to need in whatever part of my life, whether it’s at home, at work, or in the community.”